The Tech Strategy Podcast

Latest Episodes:

China's New OMO Platforms: Alibaba, Sun Art and Beike (79) Apr 25, 2021

Show notes

This week’s podcast is about online-merge-offline (OMO) platforms. A business model that is just emerging in China. I talk about Sun Art Retail and Beike / Lianjia as examples.
You can listen to this podcast here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.
Here is the BCG article I mentioned.
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Related podcasts and articles are:

From the Concept Library, concepts for this article are:

Digital Physical Hybrids
New Retail
Online-Merge-Offline (OMO)
SMILE Marathon: Ecosystem Orchestration and Participation
OMO Platforms

From the Company Library, companies for this article are:

Alibaba
Sun Art Retail Group
KE Holdings / Beike / Lianjia

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I write and speak about digital China and Asia’s latest tech trends.
I also run Asia Tech Strategy, a podcast and subscription newsletter on the strategies of China / Asia tech companies.
This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

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What is the Worst Case Scenario for Alibaba? (78) Apr 18, 2021

Show notes

This week’s podcast is about the current political risks around Alibaba. But also about the very important concept of Worst Case Scenario.
You can listen to this podcast here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.
Here is the Harvard Business Review case about Viva Macau.
Here is the book I mentioned, Dead Companies Walking by Scott Fearon.
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Related podcasts and articles are:

My 9 Investment Questions (Asia Tech Strategy – Podcast 75)

From the Concept Library, concepts for this article are:

Worst Case Scenario (Question 9)

From the Company Library, companies for this article are:

Alibaba

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I write and speak about digital China and Asia’s latest tech trends.
I also run Asia Tech Strategy, a podcast and subscription newsletter on the strategies of China / Asia tech companies.
This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

Don’t Overvalue Cool China Tactics: Community Group Buying, Blind Boxes and Influencer Marketing. (77) Apr 11, 2021

Show notes

This week’s podcast is about how to think tactics that generate short-term growth and results. And we see these coming out of China all the time. In particular, I talk about how Pop Mart used blind boxes. How Joy Spreader and Ruhnn Holding used influencer marketing. And how everyone is using community group buying.
You can listen to this podcast here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.
Here is the CBS talk with Li Lu.
Three questions for when you are thinking about tactics resulting in high-growth:

Will this short-term tactic or growth hack lose strength? When?
Is it a required new capability?
Is it a structural advantage?

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Related podcasts and articles are:

Joy Spreader and How to Think About KOL / Influencer Marketing (Asia Tech Strategy – Daily Update)

From the Concept Library, concepts for this article are:

Community Group Buying
Influencers and KOLs
Virality and Word of Mouth
Chinese Digital Consumer Network (CDCN)

From the Company Library, companies for this article are:

Joy Spreader
Pop Mart

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I write and speak about digital China and Asia’s latest tech trends.
I also run Asia Tech Strategy, a podcast and subscription newsletter on the strategies of China / Asia tech companies.
This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

Can Baidu Thrive As a Stand-Alone Search Engine? (76) Apr 04, 2021

Show notes

This week’s podcast is about Baidu and its key strategic questions:

Can it thrive as a stand-alone search engine? Against competitors such as Tencent and ByteDance.
What is its best growth opportunity? I think cloud.
Did it need to go into content? How far?
Can it compete in the attention market? Search plus feed.

You can listen to this podcast here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.
The mentioned slides are here.
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Related podcasts and articles are:

From the Concept Library, concepts for this article are:

Search Engines
Learning Platforms
Standardization and Interconnection Network Effects

From the Company Library, companies for this article are:

Baidu

——–
I write and speak about digital China and Asia’s latest tech trends.
This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

My 9 Investment Standard Questions (75) Mar 28, 2021

Show notes

This week’s podcast is about my investment checklist. Which is really just 9 questions. Shown below.
You can listen to this podcast here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.
Charlie Munger’s Speech on the Psychology of Human Misjudgment. Located here.
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Related podcasts and articles are:

From the Concept Library, concepts for this article are:

9 Questions
Company Quality (Ques 1 and 2)
Worst Case Scenario (Ques 9)

From the Company Library, companies for this article are:

Warren Buffett / Berkshire Hathaway

------------
I write and speak about digital China and Asia’s latest tech trends.
I also run Asia Tech Strategy, a podcast and subscription newsletter on the strategies of China / Asia tech companies.
This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

Fiverr and the Classic Marketplace Platform Playbook (74) Mar 21, 2021

Show notes

This week’s podcast is Fiverr and their classic approach to building a marketplace platform (for freelance services). I don't go into it too much but I thought it was a good example of a common playbook for venture capital-backed early stage companies.
You can listen to this podcast here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.
Andreesen Horowitz listed 4 types of competitive advantages:

Network effects
Economies of scale
Direct brand power
Differentiated technology

My competitive pyramid is here.
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Related podcasts and articles are:

From the Concept Library, concepts for this article are:

Platforms: Marketplace
Network Effects
Competitive Advantage: Differentiated Technology?

From the Company Library, companies for this article are:

Fiverr

——-
I write and speak about digital China and Asia’s latest tech trends.
I also run Asia Tech Strategy, a podcast and subscription newsletter on the strategies of China / Asia tech companies.
This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

Can Huawei's HarmonyOS Break Android's Monopoly? (73) Mar 14, 2021

Show notes

This week’s podcast is about Huawei’s big operating system initiative. It’s the first serious challenge to Android’s global dominance. And how to break-in with a new ecosystem is a fascinating question.
You can listen to this podcast here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.
Types of platforms:

Marketplace Platforms
Payment Platforms
Innovation and Audience-Builder Platforms
Coordination, Collaboration and Standardization Platforms
Learning Platforms

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Related podcasts and articles are:

From the Concept Library, concepts for this article are:

Ecosystems vs. Platforms
Platforms: Innovation

From the Company Library, companies for this article are:

Huawei
Android

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Can JD, Alibaba and New Retail Go International? My Interview With the CEO of JD Central Thailand. (72) Mar 08, 2021

Show notes

This week’s podcast is about JD Central in Thailand. I had an interesting visit and interviewed the CEO. And it raises a bigger point of whether China's ecommerce giants can or will go international?
You can listen to this podcast here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.
The McKinsey & Co article I mentioned is here.
Related podcasts and articles are:

From the Concept Library, concepts for this article are:

From the Company Library, companies for this article are:

JD
JD Central Thailand
Alibaba

———-
I write and speak about digital China and Asia’s latest tech trends.
I also run Asia Tech Strategy, a podcast and subscription newsletter on the strategies of China / Asia tech companies.
This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

Will JD Logistics Become a New Type of Ecosystem? (71) Feb 28, 2021

Show notes

This week’s podcast is about JD Logistics. It's an interesting case of a capability becoming a service business. And maybe a new type of ecosystem.
You can listen to this podcast here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.
Related podcasts and articles are:

From the Concept Library, concepts for this article are:

Ecosystems vs. Digital Platforms
SMILE Marathon: Ecosystem Orchestration and Management

From the Company Library, companies for this article are:

JD Logistics
AT&T
Android

Support the show

How Coupang Is Building a Competitive Fortress in South Korea (70) Feb 21, 2021

Show notes

This week’s podcast is about the Coupang of South Korea. An interesting case of local dominance (geographic) based initially on competitive advantages on the cost side. But potentially also on the demand side.
You can listen to this podcast here or at iTunes, Google Podcasts and Himalaya.
The advantages for Coupang I mentioned are:

Production Cost Advantage: Location or Transportation Cost Advantage
Economies of Scale: Purchase Economies
Economies of Scale: Distribution Network Density
Economies of Scale: IT and R&D Spending
Production Cost Advantage: Proprietary Technology (possible)
Network Effects (possible)
Share of Consumer Mind / Branding / Habit Formation (possible)

Here are the quotes I mentioned from the IPO filing (see webpage)
Related podcasts and articles are:

From the Concept Library, concepts for this article are:

Production Cost Advantage: Proprietary Technology
Production Cost Advantage: Location or Transportation Cost Advantage
Economies of Scale: Purchase Economies
Economies of Scale: Distribution Network Density
Economies of Scale: IT and R&D Spending
Revenue Scale and Operating Leverage

From the Company Library, companies for this article are:

Coupang
Walmart

I write and speak about digital China and Asia’s latest tech trends.
I also run Tech Strategy, a podcast and subscription newsletter on the strategies of China / Asia tech companies.
This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. Investing is risky. Do your own research.

Support the show

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